Last Updated on Sunday, 9 February 2025, 21:22 by Writer
The fire that burnt to death a teacher and a bus driver early Sunday morning at Hydronie, East Bank Essequibo was of electrical origin, the Home Affairs Ministry said.
“Preliminary investigations conducted by the Guyana Fire Service identified that the fire was caused by a slack electrical connection, which resulted in arcing and sparking that ignited nearby combustible materials,” the ministry said. Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn was quoted as saying that a full investigation is underway to determine all contributing factors and to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
The fire occurred at Lot 1 A Hydronie, claiming the lives of Hansraj Narine, 57, and Hemwattie Narine, also known as Haywattie Bahadur, 52.
The fire, which broke out around 1:55 a.m. destroyed their home, a one-flat wooden and concrete structure.
Chief Fire Officer Gregory Wickham reiterated the importance of fire safety and adherence to electrical maintenance protocols, urging all citizens to take necessary precautions to safeguard their homes and families.
Mr Wickham told Demerara Waves Online News that the fire service received a call at about 1:55 a.m. and a fire tender arrived on the scene shortly after 2 a.m. On arrival, he said, firefighters saw the building was fully engulfed in flames and the roof had already caved in.
“We’re saddened by their death,” Mr Wickham said.
The Guyana Police Force said police responded to a 911 call of a fire at the present address by an unknown caller at the scene where the house, a flat concrete structure in a fenced yard, was located.
